Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-05
TWO CENTS.

OF disease and another not, asweu as the marked |
differences in the severity and mode OF progress OF
the same disease At different periods In tue same
localilies anu saint classes OF the people. The
same additional knowledge would also furnish the
basis Tor further sanitary measures OF the greatest
practical value.
And yet 1t must be obvious that the co-opera- |
ton OF numbers of medical men directly engaged |
IN the field OF general practice, with others pos
sessed OF more practical facilities for chemical
and m1croScopcal research, Is necessary for sue
ceSsfully prosecuting such coincident and con-
tinuous Investigations as would be likely To secure
the desired results Only Well-trained general
practitioners In every locality chosen for oNserva-
tion could observe and record the date of the ini
tial symptoms OF acute general diseases coming
under their notice, and at stated Intervals coIate
and report them 10 n central committee The
daily observations concerning the presence and
relative proportion OF active oNldizers and or
nitrogehouS organic elements in the atmosphere
and the water, would require the selection OF one
or two experts In chemical and microscopical re-
searchfor each locality: all making their obSerya-
tions coincidently in time and by uniform methods
There are included in the organized medical asso-
Citations or each country the men and materials
necessary Tor prosecuting every WelJ-drlned line
OF inquiry; and these associations. by their stated
meetings and their facilities for lntercommunica-
ton and concert OF action, present the entire
chfnery needed and are only waiting Tor well
planned and systematic use.
The tendency TO make the permanent medical
organizations available for prosecuting work TN
the directions l have indicated have already been
manifested 10 limited extent. as may b. seen in
the formation OF the collective Investigation COM
mittee OF the British Medical ASSo cation and OF
the International collective Investigation conmiI-
tee, organized during the sitting OF the Eighth In
ternatlonal Congress at Copenhagen.
AN EARLY MOVEMENT.
An earlier movement more fully OF the character
have been endeovoring TO explain was made by
the American Medical Association in 1870 when a
standing committee was appointed TO tahlish I'm
sufficient number or localities regular concident
daily observations and records concerning all ap-
preciable meteorological conditions, Including
organic and inorganic elements found In the at
moSphere. and the date OF beginning OF acute gen
eral diseases and report the results at each annual
meeting Ot the association.
The Committee made reports embodying facts
OF interest and permanent value In ISL In lS1p.
In 1881. in 1882 ana In 1883. The latter report
contains among other items a complete tabulated
statement or the free and albumnoid ammonia In
tile atmosphere for every day in the year ending
August 81. 1855, as determined for the committee
by Prof. j. III. Long la connection with the labOra-
tory or the Chicago Medical College. The COM
mfttee Is still prosecuting It's work with material
in hand for still more important report at an
early day. The greatest difficulty encountered
has been to enlist a sufficient number OF active
practitioners In each locally VINO faithfully record
the desired clinical facts and report the RESULTS TO
the committee. But this ana all other obstacles
can be overcome by perseverlng and well-directed
work.
trust no apology is needed for having embraced
this occasion To attract your attention TO the very
Important question how TO make all our medical
associations more useful In promoting the science
OF medicine by more complete methods of lnves;t-
CATION, especially I'm directions where the cOinci-
dent action OF several persons in different places
Is essential for success.
fully appreciate the great benefit resulting
from the simple mingling OF large numbers OF
medical men in social contact where each is made
TO hear constantly, whether on the street. in the
hotel. or the assembly room, new suggestions new
modes OF expression, and 10 observe the physical
and mental effects OF the various habits and Gus
toms OF the different peoples until each one leaves
thS general gathering with largely increased men-
ual activity and resources, as was so happily eE-
pressed by Sir james Paget in his address 10 the
congress Of 1881 IN London. And | appreciate in a
still higher degree the benefits derived from the
preparation and reading OF pdperS by individuals
and the discussion OF important questions i'll all
our assemblies.
SUGGESTIONS TO THE CONGRESS.
But for reasons have already briefly stated, i
hope to see added in every permanent general med
ical society, two standing committees; one, TO
whom should be referred for critical examination
every communication claiming to embOdy a new
discovery in either the Science or Art Of Med
1cine; and the other should be charged with the
work of devsing such lines OF Investigation for
developing additional knowledge as require the
cooperation OF different in lvdaals, and perhaps
societies, and OF experimenting their efficient exc
CutioH until crowned with success.
II 10 or 20 per cent OF the money PAID for initia-
ti0n and membership dues by the members OF each
society were appropriated and 1udiciously eX-
pended in the prosecution OF such Systematic and
continuous Investigations from year TO year IL
would accomplish more In advancing medical
science directly, and indirectly in benehting the
human race, than ten times that amount would
accomplish II expended in any other direction.
For III must De remembered Jldt when money Is
expended for material objects, even Tor food,
clothing, or medicine, such materials feed, cothe,
Or relieve but one set OF needy individuals and
are themselves consumed; but the expenditure of
money and time In such a way as TO develop a new
fact capable or practical application either in pre-
venting, allevtating, or curing disease, that fact
does not, ike the food or medicine, perish with the
using, but Ii becomes literally lmperiSh2be.
Neither its benefits limited one Set OF fndi-
yiduals, but 1t Is transmitted with the speed OF
lightning over the land and under the sea TO
every civilized people, and whatever benefits il is
capable OF conierring are as capable OF being
applied to a million as TO one, and OF being re-
peated with increasing efficiency from generation
to generation.
II has been tersely and correctly stated that
associated action constitutes the characteristic
and predominating power or the age la which we
live. 1t Is by associated action that education in
its broadest sense, religion, and civilization have
been more rapidly dinuaed among the MASSES or
mankind during the present century than during
any other lerlod OF the worlds history.
Ii Is 10y the association OF capital welded by the
associated inteIlectS OF the nineteenth century
that highways OF commerce have been opened
over the valleys, through the mountains, across
the DESERTS and on the oceans, over some OF which
the material productions or the nations are borne
by the resiStlesS power OF steam, and along others
the products OF mental action are moved with the
speed OF electric currents, until both time and
space are SO far nulilned that the most distant
nations have become neighbors, and the naabi-
tantS hold daily converse with each other from
opposite sides OF the globe.
Indeed, ii is only by means OF such of these high
ways as nave been constructed within the Ia Sn-
ory OF him who addresses you, that you have been
gathered in this hall from the four quarters or the
earth, and through which an account OF your do
ingS may be daily transmitted TO your most dis
tant homes.
congratulate you on the fact that the profeS-
sion you represent has taken the lead OF ali other
professions classes OF men, in rendering avail
able these grand material achievements OF the
age, for cultlyatlng Iraternai relations develop
Ing and tnterchanging knowledge, and p.anning
concerted action Tor rendering human life every
where healthier, happier and Of longer duration.
This is the ninth grand International Congress
in regular series within little more than two de-
cadeS, and let US hope that all its work Will not
Only be done In harmony and good Crier, but with
such results a5 Will add mucn TO the aggregate OF
human happiness through ali the coming genera
tlOns. Without treop2SSing further on your patti
eDce, i must ask your forhearance with my own
imperfect qualifications, ana your generous assist
ance In the discharge OF the responsible duties you
have devolved upon me.
The congress listened TO President Davis address
with intense interest. AT its close There was pro-
and shook the venerable president OF tie congress
by the hand. The gathering rose TO co. and the
presiding officer al once announced that the
congress was adjourned unit. tomorrow morning
at 10 O'Clock.
Scenes i'm and about the Opera House.
The crowd assembled about the Albaugh Opera
House at 10 O'Clock this morning was distin-
guished for the number OF gentlemen with bald
heads, gray heads and white whiskers, gold
glasses, and sedate black frock coats On the
breast OF each broadcloth was the blue ribbon and
the silver medal OF Columbus adopted by the
Medical Congress as the badge OF the delegates.
And there Were almost as many ladies men, but
only two or three OF these wore badges They
were only the wives or daughters OF the doctors.
A row OF doctors In shiny black coats sat on the
curOlnQ either side OF the entrance.